Dracaena plant named ‘PVDRAGCI’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Dracaena plant named ‘PVDRAGCI’ which is characterized by the combination of an upright growth habit with variegated foliage borne atop a large cane, lorate-shaped and spiraled foliage, variegated foliage which is green and axially striped with a darker shade of green and broadly and irregularly margined light yellow, mature foliage which edged with a darker shade of yellow, and the stability of these characteristics from generation to generation.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosed herein is Dracaena fragrans.

Variety denomination: The inventive cultivar of Dracaena disclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘PVDRAGCI’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘PVDRAGCI’ is a spontaneous whole-plant mutation of Dracaena frangrans ‘Golden Coast’ Plant Pat. No. 12,603 which was discovered at a commercial greenhouse in Monster, the Netherlands in 2018. The mutation was initially noted for its unique foliage variegation. Said mutation was isolated for further evaluation to confirm the uniformity and stability of the unique characteristics first observed. Upon confirmation of the stability and uniformity of the characteristics, the new plant was selected for commercialization.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of ‘PVDRAGCI’ is accomplished by way of rooting large semi-hardwood stem cuttings, referred to as “canes”. Propagation was first performed in 2018 at the inventor's commercial greenhouse in Monster, the Netherlands. Through one subsequent generation, the unique features of this cultivar have proven to be stable and true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘PVDRAGCI’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘PDVDRAGCI’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘PVDRAGCI’ as a new and distinct Dracaena fragrans cultivar:

-   -   1. Dracaena ‘PVDRAGCI’ exhibits an upright growth habit with         upright foliage born atop a large cane; and     -   2. Dracaena ‘PVDRAGCI’ exhibits upright foliage near the apex,         with foliage becoming progressively more relaxed, proximally;         and     -   3. Dracaena ‘PVDRAGCI’ exhibits relatively large, lorate-shaped         foliage which is moderately spiraled and curled downward,         distally; and     -   4. Dracaena ‘PVDRAGCI’ exhibits medium green juvenile foliage         which is axially striped with a darker shade of green, broadly         and irregularly margined light yellow; and     -   5. Dracaena ‘PVDRAGCI’ exhibits green mature foliage which is         broadly and irregularly margined yellow, and edged with a darker         shade of yellow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary plant of ‘PVDRAGCI’ grown in Monster, the Netherlands. This plant, grown in a 15 cm nursery container, is approximately 18 weeks old from a rooted young plant; and

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the actively growing portion of an exemplary ‘PVDRAGCI’ plant; and

FIG. 3 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the typical upper foliage of ‘PVDRAGCI’; and

FIG. 4 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the typical lower foliage of ‘PVDRAGCI’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements, made in May of 2019, describe averages from a sample set of six specimens of 18 week-old ‘PVDRAGCI’ plants grown in 15 cm nursery pots in Monster, the Netherlands. Plants were produced using conventional greenhouse production protocols for Dracaena sp. which consisted of growing under shade cloth, irrigating at regular intervals with ebb and flow flood benches, and fertigation. No chemical treatments of any kind were utilized.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘PVDRAGCI’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may differ from the descriptions set forth herein with variations in environmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘PVDRAGCI’ and comparisons with the parent plant and most similar commercial Dracaena cultivar known to the inventor are provided below.

-   Plant description:     -   -   Growth habit.—Upright evergreen perennial with foliage born             atop a cane.         -   Plant profile.—Obovate to broad elliptical.         -   Average height from base to top of foliage.—101.9 cm.         -   Average width.—Average of 46.0 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Moderately fast growing.         -   Plant vigor.—Moderately vigorous.         -   Propagation details.—Asexual propagation is accomplished by             semi-hardwood stem cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 5 weeks are required             to initiate roots at 25 degrees Celsius.         -   Time to produce a marketable 15 cm potted             plant.—Approximately 15 to 30 weeks. Pinching will increase             lateral branching.         -   Disease and pest resistance or susceptibility.—Neither             tolerance nor resistance to normal diseases and pests of             Dracaena fragrans have been observed.         -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to USDA Hardiness Zones 10             through 12 and temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius;             moderate tolerance to rain and wind. -   Root system:     -   -   General.—Fibrous; freely branched and moderately dense             rooting.         -   Distribution in the soil profile.—Shallow to moderately             deep.         -   Texture.—Smooth; glabrous.         -   Color.—Greyed-orange, RHS N 170A. -   Stems:     -   -   Branching characteristics.—Not freely branched in nature;             typically develops lateral branches only when manipulated by             man by way of pruning. In cultivation, there is typically             one lateral branch that arises from the cane.         -   Quantity of main stems.—1 cane.         -   Quantity of lateral branches.—1.         -   Main stem.—Attitude — Near vertical. Strength — Very strong.             Texture — Glabrous; fissured. Color — Nearest to a mixture             of greyed-orange and greyed-brown, RHS 165C and 199B.         -   Lateral branches.—Attitude — Near vertical. Strength — Very             strong. Stem texture — Glabrous. Stem luster — Matte. Color,             developing stems — Yellow-Green, nearest to RHS 144D. Color,             mature stems — Yellow-Green, nearest to a mixture of RHS             144C and 144D. Color at the internodes — Yellow-Green,             nearest to RHS 146B. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Spiraled.         -   Attachment.—Sheathed.         -   Division.—Simple.         -   Attitude.—Foliage near the apex is upright to outward and             becomes progressively more relaxed towards the cane.         -   Number of leaves per lateral branch.—17.         -   Lamina.—Dimensions — 28.3 cm long and 6.4 cm wide, on             average. Shape — Lorate. Aspect — Moderately axially twisted             (i.e. spiraled); distal portion on the lamina pointing             downward. Apex — Acute with a short, soft but pointed tip.             Base — Sheathed. Sheath Length — 2.4 cm. Width — 2.4 cm.             Color, adaxial surface — Green-white, nearest to RHS 157A.             Color, abaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 147B.         -   Margin.—Entire; coarsely undulate.         -   Texture and luster of adaxial surface.—Smooth, glabrous and             moderately glossy.         -   Texture and luster of abaxial surface.—Smooth, glabrous and             matte.         -   Color.—Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface — Yellow-green,             nearest to RHS 144A; lightly axially striped with a darker             shade of yellow-green, nearest to RHS 146B; margined             yellow-green, nearest to RHS 150A. Juvenile foliage, abaxial             surface — Nearest to in between green and yellow-green, RHS             NN137B and 146A; broadly and irregularly margined             yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144A, and edged yellow, nearest             to RHS 11A. Mature foliage, adaxial surface — Nearest to in             between green and yellow-green, RHS NN137B and 146A; broadly             and irregularly margined yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144A,             and edged yellow, nearest to RHS 11A. Mature foliage,             abaxial surface — Green, nearest to a mixture of RHS 138A             and 138B; irregularly margined yellow-green, nearest to RHS             146D, and edged yellow, nearest to a mixture of RHS 8A and             8B.         -   Venation.—Pattern — Parallel. Color, adaxial surface —             Nearest to in between green and yellow-green, RHS NN137B and             146A; broadly and irregularly margined yellow-green, nearest             to RHS 144A, and edged yellow, nearest to RHS 11A. Color,             abaxial surface — The main vein, or midrib, is yellow-green,             RHS 144B. All other veins are indistinguishable from the             surrounding foliage: green, nearest to a mixture of RHS 138A             and 138B, and irregularly margined yellow-green, nearest to             RHS 146D, and edged yellow, nearest to a mixture of RHS 8A             to 8B. -   Inflorescence: To date, flowering has not been observed. -   Flower buds: To date, flowering has not been observed. -   Flower: To date, flowering has not been observed. -   Reproductive organs: To date, flowering has not been observed. -   Seed and fruit: To date, flowering has not been observed. -   Comparisons with the parent plant: Plants of the new cultivar     ‘PVDRAGCI’ may be distinguished from its parent, Dracaena fragrans     ‘Golden Coast’ Plant Pat. No. 12,603, by the characteristics     described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘PVDRAGCI’ ‘Golden Coast’ Foliage size. Larger and broader Smaller and narrower than ‘Golden Coast’. than ‘PVDRAGCI’. General coloration of Margined with a darker Margined with a the foliage margins. shade of yellow. lighter shade of yellow.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘PVDRAGCI’ may be distinguished from the closest known commercial comparator, the common form of the species Dracaena steudneri (not patented), by the characteristics described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘PVDRAGCI’ Dracaena steudneri Foliage aspect. More strongly spiraled Less spiralled. (i.e. axially twisted) Foliage attitude. Lower foliage is Lower foliage is more upright than more relaxed those of than those of Dracaena steudneri. ‘PVDRAGCI’. Internode length. Longer internodes Shorter internodes compared to compared to Dracaena steudneri. ‘PVDRAGCI’. Foliage size. Larger than that of Smaller than that Dracaena steudneri. of ‘PVDRAGCI’. General coloration Variegated foliage Has medium of the foliage. comprised of dark green leaves; green, medium green no variegation. and light green axial striations, as well as yellow margins. 

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Dracaena plant named ‘PVDRAGCI’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 